Change in body image

I absolutely loved being pregnant. It was the only time since I was about 12 that I haven't worried about how my body looks.

I absolutely loved being pregnant. It was the only time since I was about 12 that I haven't worried about how my body looks.

This is me as well!  Loved it!  Loved showing off my curves. 

I just wish I was like that when I'm not

Currently I'm about the same size I was with DD when I was 2 weeks overdue!  So I'm afraid what the next 2 months have in store for me and Christmas is still a week away!   

When I left work with DD half the people in my office didn't realise I was pregnant and one of the guys asked me where I was going to work next and then upon being told I was starting Maternity Leave he turned red and said he thought I'd just gained a bit of weight...  Good thing he was a guy I got on with and we had a laugh afterward, otherwise I'd have had to thump him.   

This time around I look more pregnant and have from about the start of second trimester with a more rounded bump instead of fatty bump like I had with DD.  Definitely enjoying the preggers look better this time around.

Jenx - If you don't mind me asking you are you in the regular range of clothes, mid-range (ie. can shop in most stores & some specialty plus size on a normal basis) or plus size?  Have you tried H&M's maternity range?  They do a really good size range that can be used both during and after pregnancy, plus they're clothes don't cost the earth.  Mothercare now do a nursing range, which are pretty versatile.  They're slightly more expensive, but you can wear some of their range of tops during pregnancy and post-pregnancy with the hidden panels for feeding, so they kind of even themselves out and get quite a bit of use out of them.  Also, you may want to try Freecycle or Ebay if you're not wanting to invest a lot more on clothes, as you can come across some great bundles for free / next to nothing or just some deals on specific pieces.   

I absolutely loved being pregnant. It was the only time since I was about 12 that I haven't worried about how my body looks.

Ugggh.  I hated being pregnant and even now miss my old body.  I used to be proper drop-dead, then I went and had a bunch of kids and got old. 

For those you still in early stages, a REALLY good place to get maternity clothes is in the Next sale (usually it's on Boxing Day, I think?).  Since it's maternity, they're lower demand and you're much more likely to get your stuff as opposed to trying to buy normal women's clothes (which is usually a nightmare in the sale).  I did this last time around; basically got my entire work wardrobe.  Online is probably best, as most physical stores don't keep a huge amount of maternity stock around.

  Online is probably best, as most physical stores don't keep a huge amount of maternity stock around.

I figured this to be the case, but I've always worried about getting the wrong sizes or fits from online shops?  How do you combat this? Trial and error?

Jenx - If you don't mind me asking you are you in the regular range of clothes, mid-range (ie. can shop in most stores & some specialty plus size on a normal basis) or plus size?  Have you tried H&M's maternity range?  They do a really good size range that can be used both during and after pregnancy, plus they're clothes don't cost the earth.  Mothercare now do a nursing range, which are pretty versatile.

Hey, thanks for the advice!! I haven't looked at H&M yet so I will give that a shot.

It's true that even before getting pregnant, I had a hard time shopping for clothes here -- I'm average height, anywhere from size 8-12 UK depending on the store, but I had a hard time finding trousers and skirts because I had a small waist and rather curvy behind I knew where to go back home, but I haven't found a reliable source here. And now it's even harder!

I did check out Topshop maternity but found two extremes -- either huge tent-like trousers or maternity skinny jeans. (skinny jeans! just the thing when your legs start swelling up...) I did a round of maternity sections but just didn't have much luck.

Actually can anyone recommend good maternity leggings? I've tried a few but none of them will stay up! Or maternity tights? I've bought some but even the larger sizes feel really tight. (My mom sent me some from Target that actually had... control tops!! What are people thinking?)

I did find a wrap dress at my local charity shop that feels really flattering, so I think I might just give up on trousers and jeans and wear dresses all the time. It seems if I just buy normal dresses in larger sizes, that works better for me than maternity styles.

It all seems like such a bother, as this will only last a few months, but I definitely feel a lot better waddling about if I have a nice outfit on

I miss my boobs.

I went up to 44DD feeding Roisin and Struan.

But gravity has now taken its toll. 

i hear ya.

i don't wear a bra anymore.

i just wrap 'em up in one of these.

don't bother with maternity clothes--what a waste. just get yourselves a couple of belly bands & you can wear your normal pants throughout. that's what i did and it worked great for me. i got them at top shop for £5 each (in 2007).

don't bother with maternity clothes--what a waste. just get yourselves a couple of belly bands & you can wear your normal pants throughout. that's what i did and it worked great for me. i got them at top shop for £5 each (in 2007).

My bumps were all too big for that to work.  When I fell pregnant with Aillidh, I was a size 8 (never saw that again!).  Struan was 9lbs., 5oz. and I had this enormous bump.

I figured this to be the case, but I've always worried about getting the wrong sizes or fits from online shops?  How do you combat this? Trial and error?

Pretty much.  For something like the Next sale, where you might order quite a large number of items, it might even be worth going into a store now and trying a few things on just to get a feel for your sizing.  I found their trousers run a wee bit big but the tops were fairly spot-on.  Just IMO of course.

Bump bands didn't work for me - wouldn't hold my trousers up!  It's not the solution for everyone.

I've... put on a good half a foot in the hips, and none of that squish; my snuggly-tight pre-pregnancy jeans weren't going to be able to make that stretch. *chuckles*  Maybe I can investigate that option next pregnancy, since I'm going to very likely have to buy an entire new leg-based wardrobe in the next year! 

I got a bit lucky - a maternity shop opened up downstairs.  So I was able to pick up a couple of pairs of really gorgeous stretchy slacks that don't look stretchy in the slightest.  They have served me incredibly well, and were completely worth the cost (£20 a piece, something like?).  As for tops.. I went and bought a pile of shirts from Matalan, as they were longer than most of my existing wardrobe, and long enough to cover the babybelly without looking like some naff tenting!

Hey, thanks for the advice!! I haven't looked at H&M yet so I will give that a shot.

It's true that even before getting pregnant, I had a hard time shopping for clothes here -- I'm average height, anywhere from size 8-12 UK depending on the store, but I had a hard time finding trousers and skirts because I had a small waist and rather curvy behind I knew where to go back home, but I haven't found a reliable source here. And now it's even harder!

I did check out Topshop maternity but found two extremes -- either huge tent-like trousers or maternity skinny jeans. (skinny jeans! just the thing when your legs start swelling up...) I did a round of maternity sections but just didn't have much luck.

Actually can anyone recommend good maternity leggings? I've tried a few but none of them will stay up! Or maternity tights? I've bought some but even the larger sizes feel really tight. (My mom sent me some from Target that actually had... control tops!! What are people thinking?)

It all seems like such a bother, as this will only last a few months, but I definitely feel a lot better waddling about if I have a nice outfit on

I ended up buying Maternity leggins from Motherhood Maternity when I was in the states, as the only place I saw selling them here in the UK was Mothercare and they were sold out of my size before I went on holiday.  Motherhood have a sale on at the moment on some of them:  http://www.motherhood.com/collection.asp?Keyword=leggings&Search=True&website_id=1.  I know H&M sell maternity tights, but can't vouch for how they fit, but they look like normal tights but with more room in the tummy area.  I'm not much of a tights wearer, so not much use to you there.  I agree it's such a fuff and expense for just a few months worth of change, but in the end you've got to be comfy too.  I love my leggings for lounging and wearing out - they're so versatile with just about everything and look quite stylish.

I can't vouch too much on Maternity trousers from H&M, but their tops and dresses are fantastic!  The only thing is that H&M don't do maternity clothes in the US, but they do in the UK.    Go figure.  In past I'd bought my Maternity trousers from Mothercare, but this time 'round I bought a pair from Motherhood Maternity while back in the states that I love (these).